Safety work apparel

ABSTRACT

Safety apparel for traversing a roof surface includes an outer fabric surface over which a readily abradable pattern of raised elastomeric members is applied. The apparel is sized and configured to fit over worn clothing such as blue jeans, permit the easy passing through of worn shoes, and includes cinching members to snug the apparel over the worn clothing. Interior surfaces of the apparel may also include an applied pattern of raised elastomeric members.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/839,878 entitled “Anti-Slip Slip-On Slip-Over Roof Safety Shorts” filed May 28, 2015 which is a Divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/280,637 entitled “Anti-Slip Slip-On Slip-Over Roof Safety Shorts” and filed May 18, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to safety apparel and more specifically clothing worn when traversing a roof surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofers, carpenters, electricians, home inspectors and damage appraisers often have need to traverse a sloped roof surface. Many roofs have a relatively steep profile that are particularly hazardous. Falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for almost one in three construction worker deaths.

Apparel intended for use by roofers is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,957 to Williford et al. describes a padded construction that fits over the waist and legs of a wearer being held thereon by straps. The Williford construction provides padding to the back of the legs and the buttocks and no doubt provides a heat barrier to wearers sitting on a hot roof. However, Williford does not provide fully circumferential covering about the legs or thighs nor a highly effective slip resistant exterior surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,408 to DeBaene describes work pants that are durable and cover the legs and thighs. However, DeBaene is not loosely fitting nor does it provide a highly effective slip resistant exterior surface.

For at least the foregoing reasons, it would be desirable to provide breathable safety apparel that is configured to be donned over work pants or other apparel and provide a highly effective slip resistant exterior sufficient to prevent an individual from a falling injury in cases where the individual has lost his or her footing and is in immanent danger of sliding off a roof to the ground below.

In addition to the foregoing reasons, it would be desirable to provide safety apparel that would limit the legal and financial liability of an employer of roofing workers.

Employers such as homeowner's insurance companies have a duty to provide their employees such as roofing inspectors and insurance adjusters with proper safety gear. If an employer does not provide properly maintained safety tools and gear to their employees this breaches their duty and obligation to their employees. Many states have requirements or voluntary guidelines for workplace Injury and Illness Prevention Programs. Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of construction workers, roofers, are injured or killed because their employers failed to provide the proper roof safety gear. Employers are responsible for identifying hazards and providing safety equipment to workers and training workers to use and care for the equipment. The inventor's new roof safety shorts now provide and easy to use safety gear when traversing upon a roof or steep slope.

Construction companies and roofing appraisers of homeowner's insurance companies have enormous and legal and financial liability for injuries resulting from roof injuries. If an employee dies his estate can bring a wrongful death action against the employer for breaching their duty for failure to provide proper roofing safety gear. The gear needs to be easy to use to be effective for employees to properly use it. If the gear is too cumbersome to put on then this is a foreseeable factor in the employee not wearing it and this failure to provide easy to use safety equipment is imputed to the employer. An advantage of the inventors' roof safety wear is its ease of use.

The inventor's new roof safety shorts now provide and easy to use safety gear when traversing upon a roof or steep slope and this new roof safety product will limit injury law suits and wrongful death action against any employers requiring the employees to be on a steep slope or roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to safety apparel to be worn by anyone with a need to traverse a roof or a steep or raised sloped surface. Implementations of the anti-slip apparel can provide an extra factor of protection when unexpected slips and falls occur when traversing a roof or sloped surface or a steep sloped surface and can prevent injuries or deaths. A readily abraded elastomeric gripping surface material is applied to at least the outer surfaces of the apparel and provides a means to slow and stop a slide down the roof or sloped surface or a steep sloped surface in a fall. Abradable silicone coatings are currently used to seal aero-engine fans. Xuan et al, Investigation of high-speed abrasion behavior of an abradable seal rubber in aero-engine fan application; Chinese Journal of Aeronautics vol 30 issue 4, August 2017. Gripping surface material applied on most outer surface areas of the safety clothing provides for an extra factor of anti-slip protection. It could very well be that someone traversing upon the roof falls backwards or frontwards or sideways and due to the all around gripping surface a slide off the roof can be prevented. The gripping material can be homogeneous or can be made of one or more than one type of elastomer such as silicone rubber and a urethane. The gripping material can employ a repeating texture, or a random pattern.

The gripping material may be applied over a layer of adhesive applied to finished conventional clothing or rolls or sheets of a fabric substrate by printing (e.g., silk screening), brushing, painting, or spraying. Commercially available gripping surface material can be cut or die cut into shapes and sewn or glued directly upon convention clothing. The greater the percentage or gripping surface means upon the clothing the greater the slip resistance.

The arrangement of the pattern or the shape of the gripping surface material can be in any form that provides sufficient anti-slip property to the clothing which for better results should be seventy five to one hundred percent the surface area of the clothing article. The pattern can be stripes that are in an angled diagonal orientation, arranged parallel, or nonparallel, horizontally, vertically, used as chevrons, or herringbone. The stripes can be continuous or on-continuous lines, like dashes, dots can be asymmetrical, non-circular or polygon in shape and uniformly or non-uniformly arranged. The patterns can also be in a spider web pattern, or in the pattern of Bengal tiger stripes.

If the pattern is glued to the fabric substrate of the article of clothing, the adhesive used to adhere pattern shapes can be selected from commercially available releasable or contact pressure sensitive adhesive that will adhere to the articles of safety clothing.

The article of safety apparel is typically sized larger than other clothing not configured to be worn over other articles of clothing, and accordingly, the safety apparel may be easily donned over blue jeans or example, and secured or cinched snugly about a wearer by means of straps, hook and loop fasteners, draw strings or other suitable securing elements.

In one general exemplary implementation of the present invention, a pair of work pants or shorts includes a fabric substrate between 7 oz and 14 oz weight and a pattern of raised low profile members applied to the fabric substrate and covering 60% to 100% of the exterior (outer facing) surfaces of the fabric substrate. The fabric substrate can be 100% cotton, 100% polyester, a cotton/polyester blend or any cool breathable fabric blend. The work pants or shorts are sufficiently spacious to be pulled over other clothing such as blue jeans. The leg openings may include an elastic panel that permits the leg opening to stretch over clothing and then constricts snugly around the leg. The leg openings may also include a lengthwise zipper that permits the leg openings to be opened wider to permit the passing through of shoes. With a gripping surface area on a substantial proportion of the clothing, slip resistance is increased whether one falls backwards, forwards, or sideways. If the article of apparel is a trouser type article, the leg portions are configured to completely encircle the thighs of a wearer. Irrespective of the article type, implementations may include one or more outside or inside pockets.

In an aspect combinable with the foregoing exemplary implementation, a pattern of raised elastomeric members are applied to the fabric substrate by printing.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the raised members are between 1/128 inch and ⅛ inch in thickness.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the raised members are comprised of an elastomeric compound with a Shore 00 durometer between 30 and 80 and a Shore A durometer between 0 and 50.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the raised members are comprised of an elastomeric compound such as a silicone elastomer that abrades readily when exposed to forces encountered when sliding for example, against a composition type roof.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the raised members may be very close to one another, e.g., ¼ inch or less.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the foregoing safety apparel may be shaped and sized to permit the donning of the apparel over other clothing, e.g., overalls, jeans, jumpsuits and the like.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the foregoing safety apparel may include shorts or pants that protect a wearer's legs and thighs by completely surrounding the legs or thighs of the wearer.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the foregoing safety apparel may include a fabric substrate with an applied pattern of low profile raised elastomeric members.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the foregoing safety apparel may provide novel slip preventive protective wear for anyone with a need to be on a roof or sloped surface or a steep sloped surface to mitigate or protect against fall injuries or deaths.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the foregoing safety apparel may provide protective over-clothing that enhances the grip of one that traverses upon a roof or sloped surface or a steep sloped surface.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, the safety apparel may be produced in shirt form, coat form, jacket form, overalls form, coveralls, or forearm coverings, etc., in which the articles of clothing have a substantial gripping surface.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, implementations according to the present invention may be quickly fastenable for donning to encourage its use.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, implementations according to the present invention may be lightweight, breathable, and rip-resistant.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, implementations according to the present invention may include attachable sections and combinations of coverings for needs of those traversing upon a roof or a steep sloped surface. Examples are shirts attaching to the pants, forearm coverings attaching to the shirts, legging extensions attaching to the shorts.

In an aspect combinable with any of the foregoing aspects, implementations according to the present invention may be wearable in and suitable to all weather situations.

Homeowners, construction workers, seasonal Christmas lights installers, repairmen, roofers, inspectors, house appraisers, or anyone with a need to be on a roof or a steep sloped surface will benefit from the invention. Year after year, falls remain the leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for almost one in every three construction worker deaths. This invention can add an extra factor in injury reduction. Even though those traversing upon the roof may already be using existing safety devices such as cabling or safety roofing shoes, such articles may not be enough in the face of accidental trips due to miss-steps, unseen obstacles on the roof, or wind gusts, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES AND THE REFERENCED NUMBERS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 1);

FIG. 3 shows various elastomeric elements that may be applied to a fabric substrate;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show respectively, front and back views of an embodiment according to the present invention including a jacket with a pattern of applied elastomeric elements;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show respectively, front and back views of an embodiment according to the present invention including a jacket with a pattern of applied elastomeric elements;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show respectively, front and back views of another embodiment according to the present invention including a jacket with a pattern of applied elastomeric striped elements;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show respectively, front and back views of another embodiment according to the present invention including overalls with a pattern of applied elastomeric elements;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show respectively, front and back views of an embodiment according to the present invention including overalls with a pattern of applied elastomeric elements;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show respectively, front and back views of an embodiment according to the present invention including overalls with a pattern of applied elastomeric elements;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show respectively, front and back views of another embodiment according to the present invention including overalls with a pattern of applied elastomeric striped elements;

FIG. 11 shows a pair of overalls with an applied textured pattern inside of the overalls;

FIG. 12 shows a shirt or pull-over having an applied texture thereon;

FIG. 13 is another embodiment, and depicts a front view of a pair of shorts with an applied elastomeric coating;

FIG. 14 is a back view of the shorts shown in (FIG. 13);

FIG. 15 is a side view of the shorts shown in (FIG. 13);

FIG. 16 is a detail view of a leg opening of the shorts shown in (FIG. 13);

FIG. 17 is a detail view of a fabric substrate with an applied elastomeric pattern;

The advantages described herein will be more fully understood by by the following detailed description of the embodiments.

REFERENCE LISTING OF THE NUMBERED ELEMENTS

-   100 clothing article -   102 textured pattern element -   104 elastomeric print -   105 fabric substrate -   106 pants leg -   108 article exterior -   110 article interior -   112 waist band -   114 pocket -   116 crotch section -   117 buttocks section -   118 cinching member -   120 stretch panel -   122 leg side flap closure -   123 zipper

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the term “ gripping surface material” means an elastomeric material with a high coefficient of friction when moving against a roofs surface. the gripping surface material can be made of one kind of material such as but not limited to a sheet of rubber, or can be made of one or more than one type of elastomer, or the homogeneous gripping surface material can employ a homogeneous texture or textures, homogeneous or non-homogeneous regularly patterned or irregularly patterned, or homogeneous gripping surface can be a gripping surface that is currently employed in gloves with gripping surfaces, or the homogeneous gripping surface can consist of protruding members that semi-penetrate the roof for added slip resistance. The term “roof surface” means any commercially available roofing material such as tiles, asphalt composition, metal corrugated, plastic or other composition. The term “abradable” means a material that loses surface material sacrificially when moving against the sloping surface of a roof. When referring to percentages of surface covered by an elastomeric pattern or gripping material, this means considering the various outer surfaces of garment, taking an average of the overall outer surface that is covered by a regular pattern of raised elastomeric elements.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-17, embodiments according to the present invention include articles of safety apparel. The articles of safety apparel typically possess a loose fit that enables the apparel to be donned over existing worn apparel. The articles of safety apparel are typically made of a tough yet breathable fabric substrate such as a 5-8 oz poly-cotton, a 5-8 oz nylon. However, it is possible that some implementations may include a heavier weight, e.g., 12-16 oz fabric. The safety apparel also includes an applied elastomeric pattern 104 atop the fabric substrate 105 that is typically printed on the fabric prior to sewing the safety apparel. In some implementations, the applied pattern may be glued to the outer surface of the apparel. The applied pattern typically covers at least 60% of the outer surface of the apparel. The applied pattern may be on both the exterior and interior of the apparel. Trouser type apparel typically include an elastic panel on an inside facing side of each leg, and a slit that may be opened and closed; e.g., by a zipper, to permit shoes to pass through the leg openings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of one embodiment of safety apparel 100 shows a gripping surface material that has a substantial amount of gripping surface material 104 applied to the outer surface 105 of the apparel. Cinching members 118 to tighten the leg openings may include strap and patch pairs with hook and loop material. Alternately, cinching may be provided by buttons, snaps, drawstrings, etc., that will suggest itself to those having skill in the art and access to this dislcosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rear view of the article of apparel of (FIG. 1), also shows a substantial amount of gripping surface material applied to the outer surface of the apparel.

FIG. 3 depicts various possible patterns of an applied gripping surface material 102 such as a circular elastomeric applique that could be used in a pattern of dots, a strip type applique which may be be used in a pattern of a series of stripes or parallel lines or perpendicular lines, a chevron applique, a random shape applique, a spider web applique and a Bengal tiger pattern applique.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B illustrate the front and back sides of a shirt or jacket type article of safety apparel that includes a gripping surface material 102 in various patterns with a substantial amount of gripping surface material 102, 104 applied to the safety clothing.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 10A and 10B illustrate the front and back sides of an overall type article of safety apparel including a gripping surface material 102, 104 that has been applied to varying percentages of the outer surface 105 of the apparel. Preferably, the pattern would cover at least 60% and preferably at least 75% of the outer surface.

FIG. 11 depicts an overall type article of safety apparel including a gripping surface material that covers the outer surface 105 substantially, and at least some of the interior surfaces as well. FIG. 12 shows a pull over type article of safety apparel that covers the outer surface 105 substantially, and at least some of the interior surfaces as well.

FIG. 13 depicts a front side view of a preferred embodiment for an article of safety apparel. The pair of shorts shown includes an outer surface 105 that is substantially covered by a regular repeating pattern 104 of raised readily abraded elastomeric members. The shorts include elastic stretchable panels 120 on the inside facing sides of the pants legs and a lengthwise opening 122 that may be opened and closed by a zipper or other closure means to enable a shoe to pass through the leg openings.

FIG. 13 depicts a back side view of a preferred embodiment of (FIG. 13).

FIG. 15 shows the lengthwise opening 122 that enlarges the pants leg opening as needed to don article over worn shoes.

FIG. 16 is a detail view of a pants leg 106 opening depicting the lengthwise opening 122 with zipper closure 123 and side surface 110. The raised patter of elastomeric members 104 is clearly shown atop a fabric substrate 105.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged detail view of a regular pattern of enlarged raised elastomeric elements 104 over a fabric substrate 105.

Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain example embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Safety apparel for traversing a roof surface comprising: a fabric trouser member, the trouser member comprising: a pair of leg portions each leg portion including a top opening and a bottom opening and each leg portion configured to fully surround the leg or thighs of a wearer; a waist portion; a buttocks portion; and wherein each bottom opening is configured for expansion and contraction at a lower end of each leg portion; at least the leg portions and the buttocks portion are covered with a pattern of raised elastomeric members, and, the raised elastomeric members are configured to sacrificially abrade when sliding directly against a composition roof surface.
 2. The safety apparel according to claim 1 wherein the raised elastomeric members cover at least 75% of an outer surface of the fabric trouser member.
 3. The safety apparel according to claim 1 wherein the raised elastomeric members include a shore A durometer value of between 0 and
 50. 4. The safety apparel according to claim 1 wherein the raised elastomeric include a readily abradable silicone.
 5. The safety apparel according to claim 1 including a lengthwise closure on each leg portion. 